Congressman Crow Statement on Being Denied Access to Aurora’s ICE Detention Facility

AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) today was denied entry by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Aurora Detention Facility in his district. This denial is in violation of federal law, which grants Members of Congress the right to provide oversight of such federal detention facilities.

Congressman Crow’s office regularly conducts oversight of the facility, including publishing public reports on his website of oversight visits and conditions at the facility.

Since being elected to Congress, Crow has fought to promote transparency, oversight, and accountability in government. In February 2019, following multiple reports of a disease outbreak at the Aurora Detention Facility operated by GEO Group, Congressman Crow made an unannounced visit to the federal facility where he was initially denied entry. Afterward, he led the push for Members of Congress to be able to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE facilities, including to check on any concerns related to public health and the humane treatment of detained individuals. 

In a statement, Congressman Crow said:

“Today I attempted to visit the federal detention facility in Aurora in order to conduct critical oversight as a Member of Congress. I was unlawfully denied access by ICE and the Trump Administration.

“Providing oversight is critical to my job in Congress. The law is clear that Members of Congress have the legal right to conduct unannounced oversight of federal detention facilities.

“Since President Trump was elected, this administration has tried to intimidate Members of Congress from doing their jobs. I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight. I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions.”

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